The Refinishing Touch Blog

The EPA recently announced it has awarded grants to several universities and organizations and their pollution prevention initiatives: The University of Missouri’s Environmental Assistance Center, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the University of Nebraska, Kansas State University and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment have each received grants for projects they have planned or are implementing. Each organization has also committed to match the awarded amount by the EPA.

The University of Missouri’s EAC is putting its grant money into programs that will provide a minor degree or certification in Pollution Prevention, as well as into an internship program that will support local Missouri businesses to help them reduce toxic materials and conserve energy.

The IDNR has committed to lowering the use of toxic materials in two industries: health care and metal finishing. The funds it receives will go to building improved management systems for these industries to reduce the amount of toxic metals and chemicals used.

The funds provided to the University of Nebraska will go toward providing source reduction assistance to local business during the current economic climate at its Lincoln campus, and toward enhancing the capacity of its Pollution Prevention Resource Information Center.

In Kansas, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is to provide multimedia pollution prevention technical assistance, and the Kansas State University will use the funds to offer source reduction technical assistance to healthcare and hospitality industries via its Pollution Prevention Institute.

The EPA’s generous grants – not to mention the matching of the funds from the recipients – are incredibly beneficial, not only to the organizations and students that the funding will go to, but also to the various communities and industries that they touch. We’re extremely hopeful that with the help of these grants, all of the recipients will make remarkable headway in the fight to reduce pollution and drive sustainability.